The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has disclosed that foreigners were behind the killing of 12 people at a mining site in Unguwar Magro Village in Niger State.
Alake, who disclosed this in a post on X on Thursday, noted that foreigners are funding banditry in Nigeria.
“Preliminary reports indicate that non-Nigerians are funding these operations. Anyone involved will be prosecuted for economic sabotage and waging war against Nigeria,” he said.
The minister announced that mining operations had been banned on the site where the killing occurred until the investigation was concluded.
“I assure Nigerians that security agencies are on the trail of the murderers of twelve miners shot in Unguwar Magro Village, Niger State, and they will be apprehended soon.
“No mining will occur at the attack site until investigations are complete. Security agencies are committed to ensuring that mines across the country are safe from bandits seeking to exploit mineral-rich areas through violence.
“The Mining Marshals are working with intelligence units to turn this attack into a special case, tracking the suspected bandits infiltrating Shiroro from neighbouring states. Those who invade villages and kill innocents for illegal mining will face severe consequences,” the statement read.
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